Wyoming Vote Tracker

I know what you’re thinking:

Scott, would you just shut up about McCain already?!?!?!? He’s the nominee, leave him alone and just ride the storm out.

Well, first, he’s only the presumptive nominee. Not that much is going to change at the Convention, barring some major health issue that arises between now and September. No, I’m not wishing, desiring, endorsing, or condoning ill of the very senior Arizona Senator (and presumptive nominee). I’m just saying that IF (and that is a very big IF) Sen. McCain were to experience some kind of major health problem in the next several months, it COULD (and that’s a very big COULD) impact the voting of the delegates.

Second this really isn’t an anti-McCain post. Actually, since he has accumulated the 1,191 delegates for nomination security, I’ve been pretty good about not being anti-McCain. Not that I’ve been all that pro-McCain, but I haven’t really been anti-McCain. Either way, I lose and win, all at the same time. By not being vigorously anti-McCain, the pro-McCain crowd (regardless of party affiliation) is content that I’m not ripping him apart every other day. Of course, I do lose support for the anti-McCain folk this way. But, by not being all that enthused about the presumptive nominee, the anti-McCain people are appeased. Thus, I am now bipartisan. Talk about being somewhere you never thought you’d be. But, if that’s what it takes to maintain a positive, enthusiastic, rah-rah, Reagan Republican reputation…

I do think that this Presidential race is going to be one of the most divisive that we’ve seen in my lifetime. I’m thinking back to the likes of Bush-Perot-Clinton and Bush-Gore-Nader. Just for fun, by way of obscure transition, let’s throw in the 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial slate, Freudenthal-Bebout-Dawson. Returning to Presidential politics and 2008, this November, we could be looking at Democrat-McCain-Barr. Now you recognize the transition, which we’ll come back to.

Ironically, I wasn’t a huge fan of Eli Bebout’s in the primary cycle of 2002. It was a crowded Republican slate. That summer, I settled on Ray Hunkins. His “Common Sense Conservative” motto was very appealing, and after researching, I found him to be what he had on his campaign materials. There was some rather contentious campaign moments between the Hunkins and Bebout camps. Not to mention, one of the state’s biggest names was on Mr. Bebout’s campaign. In the midst of Ray Hunkins surging going into the August Primary, mud flew and Eli Bebout won. Disturbing as the end of the primary cycle was, Eli Bebout was someone I could still support. Unfortunately, some Republicans went for the Libertarian and I cringe to think that others went for our current Governor. It was obvious that it happened in 2006. I have since met Eli Bebout and found him to be a good man, and now, he’s a good State Senator, filling the vacancy created by the passing of the late Bob Peck.

So, where’s McCain fit into all this? Well, McCain certainly isn’t my favorite. There are conservatives that I have an amazing respect for that are going for McCain. Conservatives that in the past have not been supportive of him. I still have a hard time with it. Perhaps I just need to “get over it.” I did in the ‘02 gubernatorial campaign, and essentially, you could say I did for the current WYGOP Congressional primary. I know, that’s still a race to be decided, but let me explain.

I voted for Cynthia Lummis in both of her bids for State Treasurer (1998 and 2002). In fact, she was one of the first five people that I voted for, thanks to Wyoming ballot design. Having said that, she wasn’t my favorite in the special Senate appointment process last summer. I suspect that if she had been appointed, I could have very easily had a change of heart (with or without the influence of a fan), much like I very easily transitioned to Eli Bebout after Ray Hunkins lost in 2002. I had even hoped that Tom Sansonetti would run for our lone House vote, but he didn’t.

In case you’re wondering, let me be clear that it is without reservation that I endorse Cynthia Lummis. I have been in communication with a member of the campaign about last summer and we both agree that it is a non-issue. I’m sure we could split hairs and find variance on this issue or that. However, she is my candidate, and I’m thrilled–absolutely, positively, enthusiastically thrilled–to have her bumpersticker on my car.

Now that I’ve managed to hunt down every possible rabbit on this thought process, over the past couple months, we’ve had an extraordinary opportunity to see the two Democrat contenders for what they stand for. I am now convinced that either one of them would wreck this country.

One of my many concerns about Sen. McCain has revolved around a particular endorsement he received after Rudy Giuliani dropped out.

“(McCain) is (pro-life), but it’s not at the top of his agenda, not like Huckabee or the born-again Romney,” Stone said. “He’s shown his willingness to reach across the party, and we look forward to those discussions.”

I’m not sure when the former Massachusetts Governor wore the label “born-again,” though I’m fairly certain that the former Arkansas Governor would have been more likely to use it. Anyway, I presume their endorsement still stands. In perhaps one of the strangest cases of dichotomy and “getting over it,” the Senator has picked up another endorsement (HT: Mrs. C).

“Senator John McCain has a solid voting record against abortion, and has cast 31 pro-life votes since 1997,” Cross says. “He voted against endorsing Roe v. Wade, and believes it should be overturned.”

According to Cross, the Arizona senator’s voting record on judicial nominations also played a role in the pro-life group’s decision. “In addition, he voted to confirm justices [Samuel] Alito and [John] Roberts. National Right to Life is grateful for these votes.”

True, this same group was previously backing Fred Thompson, while I and some others supported Duncan Hunter. It’s just plain weird, like pineapple on pizza. And then for the ultimate in strange (perceived) pro-McCainism, check out Sen. Obama’s attempt to criticize the current President.

At a campaign stop in Reading, Pa., Obama said “either Democrat would be better than John McCain. … And all three of us would be better than George Bush.”

Speaking at a rally in Johnstown, Pa., with Congressman John Murtha, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton struck back.

“Senator Obama said today that John McCain would be better for the country than George Bush,” Clinton said. “Now, Senator McCain is a real American patriot who has served our country with distinction, but Senator McCain would follow the same failed policies that have been so wrong for our country the last seven years.”

“We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain. And I will be that nominee,” Clinton said.

All this while talk is swirling about of former Republican Representative Bob Barr going for the Libertarian Party nomination and what it could mean for the presumptive Republican nominee. Will the Democrat fighting be enough to rescue the McCain candidacy? Only time will tell.

No Comments »